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By Danae KingTHE COLUMBUS DISPATCH • Saturday July 20, 2013 5:32 AM

Five additional cases of Legionnaires’ disease tied to the outbreak at a Reynoldsburg retirement
community were confirmed yesterday, raising the total to 22 people, according to Franklin County
Public Health.

Those affected include one visitor and an employee of Wesley Ridge Retirement Community. The
rest are residents, two of whom have died of the disease, which is contracted through contaminated
mist or water vapor and is not contagious.

The ages of those who have been sickened range from 63 to 99. The names and ages of those who
died have not been released.No source of infection has been identified.

Legionnaires’ symptoms usually develop within two to 10 days of exposure and can include fever,
chills, cough, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue and loss of appetite.

Susan Tilgner, Franklin County health commissioner, said people still could become infected
because of the length of time it can take to develop symptoms.

“That’s why we think we’re going to see new cases,” she said. “Based on how the disease is
spread, we would not be surprised to continue to see people who might get the disease because they
were exposed before the precautions were put in place.”

The precautions include making sure residents shower off-site and drink bottled water. The
facility’s water has also been treated.

In all, 20 people have been hospitalized since the outbreak began July 9. Most have been
released.

Franklin County Public Health is working with the Ohio Department of Health and the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the outbreak and determine its source.

The CDC tested the facility’s water last weekend, but results have yet to be released.